Obituaries

Fong Toe Lee passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 85 years old. Born in Guangzhou, China, on July 21, 1940, Fong was the youngest of eleven siblings and the last to reunite with them in spirit.

Fong is survived and missed by his wife Jenny Lee, of 57 years; and his children and their families, Kevin and Sabrina Lee, Hillen Lee and Dan Morgan, and Yinnie Lee and Chung Chan. He is also remembered by his five grandchildren, Kendall Yu, Kassidy Yu, Andrea Lee, Alex Lee, and Hailey Chan.

Fong earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Southern China Institute of Technology (华南理工学院). After graduation, he moved to LuoYang, HeNan, where he began his career at China First Tractor Manufacturing. It was there that he met his wife, Li Chuan (Jenny Lee). They married and raised three children—Kevin, Hillen, and Yinnie—before immigrating to the United States in 1983 to build a brighter future for their family. Kevin retired from Intel as a Layout Design Engineer, Hillen is a Vice President of Sales at Procter & Gamble, and Yinnie is a Solutions Architect at Synopsys. His family was his life’s greatest joy and source of pride.

Those who knew Fong will remember his gentle heart, quiet humor, and unwavering generosity. Though frugal with himself, he was endlessly giving to others, often slipping red envelopes to his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews with a twinkle in his eye. He was happiest when his family gathered to celebrate milestones, holidays, and one another. Fittingly, his final day was spent celebrating his youngest daughter Yinnie’s birthday, surrounded by his entire family.

Fong found joy in simple pleasures: taking daily walks with Jenny, chatting with friends at the park, playing the harmonica, and keeping up with the news. A pillar of kindness and wisdom in his community, he was a trusted friend to many newly arrived immigrants, always ready to offer advice, assistance, or a ride when needed.

His legacy is one of love, family, humility, and generosity. Fong taught everyone around him the importance of caring for others and cherishing each moment together.

A celebration of Fong’s life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, with Santa Cruz Sea Spirit Memorial. His ashes will be scattered in the ocean so that his loved ones may feel his presence wherever the waves may reach. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather at Hillen and Dan’s home in Aptos, California, from 3:00 p.m. onward.